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Niles City Council adopts FY2025 budget, approves loans and property transactions
Summary
At its Aug. 12 meeting, the Niles City Council adopted the FY2025 budget, approved a $30,000 Revolving Loan Fund loan to Radio Shack to help relocate downtown, approved multiple contracts and property sales, and authorized a $420,500 parcel purchase after closed session.
The Niles City Council on Aug. 12 adopted the city’s FY2025 budget and approved a slate of contracts, loans and property transactions affecting downtown redevelopment and infrastructure.
Council passed the FY2025 Annual Budget by funds on a 5–1 roll call vote, with Councilmember Michael Thompson the only dissenting vote. The adoption was presented as a resolution and is recorded as Resolution #2024-08/2212.
Councilors also approved a $30,000 loan from the city’s Revolving Loan Fund to support relocation of Niles Radio Shack to the downtown area; the motion passed 5–1. During the public comment period earlier in the meeting, Dillon Roberts (identified as owner of Radio Shack) and Ian Martin (identified as a former Radio Shack owner) urged council support for the loan. Mayor Nick Shelton later congratulated Radio Shack on the loan and on its decision to move downtown.
The council approved three property sales to Swan Bravo Opportunity Zone Business, LLC of Portage for $1,000 per parcel (1113 N. 9th St., 714 N. 5th St. and 652 N. 8th St.), with proceeds deposited to the General Fund; that resolution was adopted unanimously by members present. The council also accepted a $29,930 bid from Pelley Excavating to demolish a residential structure at 1009 N. 6th Street using CDBG funds, and approved the CDBG PY2024 Annual Action Plan and related federal certifications and submissions to HUD.
Other procurement and capital items approved included authorization to purchase a 4‑ton Hot Box for the Department of Public Works from Alta Equipment Company for $34,733.92 via MiDeal pricing and acceptance of a $58,490 contract from Wightman and Associates for professional services on Sycamore Street improvements. The council voted to authorize the City Clerk and Mayor to execute MDOT documents needed to relocate utility lines at the M‑51 and Fort Street intersection.
The council adopted a resolution supporting a 1.5‑mill millage question for four years to appear on the November ballot; that measure passed on a 5–1 vote with Thompson opposed. Council also approved a Fiscal Agent Agreement with enFocus related to a Corewell Health Foundation grant for home improvements in Niles and adopted the DART Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan.
The meeting moved into closed session to discuss POLC union negotiations and property acquisition. After reconvening, the council adopted a resolution to purchase parcel 11-14-0025-0003-06-0 for $420,500 plus closing costs and authorized the City Administrator and City Clerk to sign closing documents; that purchase was approved unanimously by members present. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
The meeting record shows consistent roll-call documentation for each action; absent members were Amanda Dunnem and John DiCostanzo. Several agenda items and resolutions were identified by number in the minutes (for example, Resolution #2024-08/2212 for the budget adoption and Resolution #2024-08/2217 for the parcel purchase). Specific implementation steps (contract signatures, funds to be charged, and administrative delegations) were authorized where noted in the minutes, with staff direction to execute required paperwork and submit federal certifications where applicable.
